Ohio State is getting an early Christmas present. Rice’s Ethan Onianwa, one of the nation’s top offensive tackle prospects, has committed to the Buckeyes, a source briefed on the decision said. The 6-foot-6, 345-pound junior left tackle chose Ohio State after also visiting Iowa, Texas A&M and Florida State.
Onianwa, who some NFL scouts graded as a second-round prospect if he entered the 2025 NFL Draft, also drew interest from Alabama and Oregon, among others.
In 2024, Onianwa’s first season playing left tackle for the Owls, he allowed just one sack on 294 pass-blocking snaps. He also only yielded two QB hurries, according to PFF. His pressure rate of 2.4 percent ranked in the 92nd percentile of all FBS offensive tackles in 2024.
Prior to the 2024 season, the former three-star recruit started for two years for Rice at right tackle. Onianwa, a bioengineering major born in Michigan, made the AAC’s All-Academic team this year. He has one season of college eligibility remaining.
The Buckeyes lost standout left tackle Josh Simmons, another former Group of 5 transfer, at midseason to a knee injury. They slid left guard Donovan Jackson over to Simmons’ slot. Earlier this month, Simmons announced that he was entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
Onianwa is the fifth transfer addition for Ohio State since Dec. 18. The Buckeyes have also received commitments from offensive tackle Phillip Daniels (Minnesota), tight end Max Klare (Purdue), running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (West Virginia) and edge rusher Logan George (Idaho State). Klare was second among Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards in 2024 (685), while Donaldson scored 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, one receiving) in 13 games for WVU. George, transferring from the FCS level, led the Big Sky Conference with 19 1/2 tackles for loss.
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